Vending machine



Feb. 5, 192,4. H LEY 1,946,078

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' VENDING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 wawh V: H K 51152 7 Patent ed Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINEVictor H. Kelley, Madison, Wis.

lpplication, July 11, 1931. Serial No. 550,103

7 Claims. (01. s12---9'z) This invention relates to machines for vendingarticles of merchandise, such as candy bars, cigarettes, etc., and hasfor one of its primaryobjects the provision of a novel coin-controlledmachine in which a number of different kinds of articles can bedisplayed for sale, and in which the desired article to be purchased canbe readily brought into dispensing position by an operator of themachine.

Another primary object of my invention is the provision of acoin-controlled vending,machine in which thevarticles to be dispensedare carried on an endless conveyor having a plurality of articlereceiving pockets, with novel means under full control of the operatorfor bringing the pocket containing the desired article into dispensingposition.

A further salient object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor automatically and positively ejecting the desired article from apocket previously brought into the proper position upon the deposit ofthe required coin.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means forlocking the conveyor against movement upon the start of the operation ofthe article ejecting mechanism, whereby the conveyor will be heldagainst further movement by the operator and thereby insure the properdelivery of the article.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means forpreventing retrograde movement of the article ejector after the start ofoperation thereof, said means being rendered automatically inoperativeupon full actuation of the ejecting mechanism to permit the return ofthe same to its normal position after ejecting the desired article, sothat the same will again be in position for ejecting another articleupon the reoperation of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means forcompletely housing the articles to be sold, so that not only will thesame be protected from unauthorized persons, but will also be fullyprotected against mice and other rodents, and the like.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means foractuating a pair of delivery doors by the ejecting mechanism, the doorsbeing so arranged that when one of the same is opened, the other will beclosed, so as to assure the closing of the casing at all times.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel followerplates arranged in each of the pockets of the conveyor, the followerplates being actuated by the ejecting mechanism for insuring the correctejecting of the article from a pocket without binding.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means forarranging the operating handles for the conveyor and ejector relative toone another, whereby the same can be readily manipulated by the operatorof a machine without undue trouble or diificulty.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improvedcoin-controlled vending machine of the above character, which will bedurable and efficient and easy to manufacture, and one which can beplaced upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary. vertical transverse section through myimproved machine, one side wall of the housing for the endless conveyorbeing shown broken away to disclose an ejecting mechanism arranged inthe rear thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 1, and onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1,- looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3; of Figure 1,looking in the direction 'of 86 the arrows, but illustrating the articleejecting mechanism in its operative position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the pawl and rachetmechanism for preventing retrograde movement of the endless conveyor;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view, illustrating thenovel double-acting dog carried by the article ejecting mechanism.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed view illus-. trating a part of thearticle ejecting mechanism and'illustrating the position thereof priorto the insertion of a coin;

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the position thereof after theinsertion of a coin and at the start of the operation of said ejectingmechamsm;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the ejectm5 ing mechanism after fulloperation thereof;

Figure 9 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the controldoors.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating another andpreferred form of my invention;

Figure 11 is a similar section taken in front of the plane on whichFigure 10 is taken;

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed section illustrating mypreferred form of locking the endless article conveyor against movementduring the ejecting of an article from a selected pocket;

Figure 14 is an enlarged detailed vertical section showing a part of thearticle ejector;

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A generally indicates my improved vending machine whichcomprises an outer housing or casing 10, formed in any preferred way andout of any desired material. This casing or housing 10 can beornamented, if preferred, in any suitable manner so as to enhance theexterior appearance thereof, and as shown, the same includes a bottomwall or base 11, the front and rear walls 12 and 13 and side walls 14.The top of the casing is closed in any desired way, and means isprovided for permitting the convenient loading of the machine with thearticles to be dispensed.

Arranged within the housing or casing 10, and secured to the bottom wall11, is a pair of upright supporting bars 15 which form a part of thesupporting framework for the operating parts of the machine.

Journalled within the side walls 14 and the supporting bars 15 is arotatable operating shaft 16. This shaft is arranged in close proximityto the base 11 and has one end thereof protruding beyond one side wall14 and provided with a,

desired type of operating handle, such as a hand wheel 17.- Keyed orotherwise secured to the shaft 16 is a pair of spaced sprocket wheels18, around which are trained a pair of endless sprocket chains 19forming a part of an endless conveyor which will now be described. Thesesprocket chains 19 are trained over an upper pair of sprocket wheelscarried by an upper rotatable shaft (not shown). In other words, theshaft 16 and the sprocket wheels 18 are duplicated at the top of themachine for supporting the sprocket chains. The sprocket chains 19.include a plurality of links 20, pivotally connected together by pairsof cross bars 21. These pairs of cross bars 21 extend across the endlessconveyor and connect the opposite sprocket chains together. Secured tothe links 20 are outwardly projecting pockets or article carriers 22,and as shown, these pockets or carriers extend transversely across theendless conveyor and include top and bottom walls 23, the pockets orcarriers being opened at their outer ends.

Arranged within each pocket or carrier 22 is a follower plate 24 forurging the article to be dispensed out of the pocket upon actuation ofthe ejecting mechanism hereinafter to be described.

The follower plate 24 is connected to the inner wall 25 of each pocketor carrier by means of swinging arms 26. The arms 26 are pivotallyconnected to the rear wall 25 of the pocket by means of suitable pivotpins 27. One arm is connected to its follower plate by pivot 28, whilethe outer end of the companion arm 26 is curved arcuately as at 29 forsliding engagement with the follower plate. Normally, the followerplates lie in close contact with the inner 25 of the pockets and engagethe inner faces of the articles to be dispensed.

The front wall 12 of the housing or casing 10 adjacent to the lower endthereof is provided with a delivery compartment having. a deliveryopening 31 in the side wall thereof which communicates with the lateralprojecting delivery cup 32. The opening 31 can be closed at desiredtimes by means of a sliding door or gate 33 which will also behereinafter more fully described.

If preferred, the compartment 30 can be provided 'with a lower inclinedguide wall 35, inclining toward the delivery cup 32, so that whenanarticle is delivered to the delivery compartment 30, the same will beguided through the opening 31 and into the cup 32 where the same can beconveniently grasped'by the operator of a machine. The front wall 12 isprovided with a delivery opening 36 which communicates with the upperend of the delivery compartment above the inclined wall 35 thereof.

This delivery opening 36 is normally closed by a swinging door 37. Thisdoor 37 and the front of the delivery compartment can be provided withtransparent panels 38 and 39, respectively, so that the operator of amachine can bring the article that he desires to purchase in alignmentwith said swinging door 37. If preferred, the front wall of the casingor housing 10 can also be provided with a transparent panel 40, so thatpersons can readily see the different kinds of articles carried by thepockets and thereby readily make his selection therefrom.

It is obvious from the description so far, that it is merely necessaryfor the operator of the machine to turn the hand wheel 17 in order tooperate the endless conveyor and thereby bring the article that hedesires to purchase in alignment with the swinging door 37. In order toprevent the turning of the conveyor in both directions, a ratchet wheel41 is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 16 and a pivoted pawl 42is normally urged toward the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 43. Ifdesirable, the teeth of the ratchet wheel can be so spaced that uponmovement of each tooth past the pawl, a pocket 22 will be brought intoalignment with the door 27, so that the dog 43 will give an audibleclick to let the purchaser know that a pocket is in the correctposition.

My improved ejecting mechanism, which forms one of the salient objectsof my invention, comprises a swinging yoke 45 embodying spaced parallelsidebars 46 connected together at their lower ends by a cross bar 47.The cross bar 47 carries the forwardly projecting ejecting fingers orpins 48.

The upper ends of the bars 46 are rockably mounted on a cross shaft 49,anchored to the supporting frame bars 15. The swinging bars 46 of theyoke can be held against lateral shifting movement on the supportingshaft 49 by the use of suitable collars 50 connecting with the saidcross shaft.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 16 is a tubular operating shaft or sleeve51 which projects through the adjacent side wall 14 of the housing orcasing 10 and this tubularshaft is journalled in the said side wall.Secured to or formed on the hollow shaft is the forwardly projectingoperating crank or handle 52 and it is to be noted that'the said handle52 is located in close relation to the hand wheel 17 and that the saidhand Hit wheel and operating handle are both located above and adjacentto the dispensing cup 32.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the inner end of the tubular shaft 51 is acollar 53 having formed thereon or secured thereto the radiallyprojecting operating cranks 54 and 55. The operating crank 55 extendsupwardly from the sleeve 51 and is connected to the yoke 45 by means ofa pivoted link 56. The operating crank 54 extends forwardly from thetubular shaft 51 toward the front of the housing or casing, and. extendsthrough a vertical slot 57 formed in said front wall into the deliverycompartment30. This crank 54 has its forward end offset as at 58 forengagement with a guide roller 59 carried by the sliding gate or door 33heretofore referred to.

The cross bar 47 of the swinging yoke 45 has pivotally connected theretoa forwardly projecting link 60 which is pivotally connected in turn, asat 61 to the swinging door 37 adjacent to the lower end thereof. Theyoke has its cross bar 47 normally in alignment with the dispensingopening 36 and door 37, so that when a pocket 22 of the endless conveyoris in alignment with said opening 36, the ejecting fingers or pins 48can be brought into the said pocket upon forward swinging movement ofthe yoke to eject a package or article by the mentioned pocket.

It is to be noted that the fingers or pins 48 are so spaced as to bearagainst the inner faces of the pivoted arms 26, whereby the followerplate arranged in the pocket will be uniformly pressed outwardly toeject a package or article without binding.

From the description so far, it can be seen that after the hand wheel1'7 has been manipulated and the desired pocket containing the articlewanted brought into registration with the opening 37, that upondownwardly movement of the handle 52, the tubular shaft 51 will berotated. Rotation of this shaft will swing the operating cranks 54 and55 and forward movement of the crank 55 will swing the yoke 45 forwardlyand consequently bring the ejecting pins or fingers 48 into the pocketregistering with the opening 36 and force the article from the pocketthrough the opening.

synchronously, with the forward swinging movement of the yoke, the door37 will be swung open due to the link connections 60 between the loor 37and yoke. As the door 37 is swung opened, the operating crank 54 will beswung downwardly away from the roller 59 which will allow the closing ofthe sliding gate 33 by gravity. If desired, however, a light tensionspring 61 can be employed for normally urging the said gate 33 down.Upon releaseof the handle 52, the tubular shaft 51 will be returned toits normal position by means of a coil spring 62 and thus the yoke andthe cranks will all be returned to their normal position. The returnmovement of the cranks will close the door 37 and the lifting of thecrank 54 against the roller 59 will raise the gate 33, so

. rear of the front run of the conveyor and thus allow the reoperationof the conveyor by the next purchase.

side bar of the swinging yoke.

I have provided novel coin-controlled means for normally preventing theoperation of the yoke and this means embodies a pivoted trip lever 63carried by one of the side bars 46 of the swinging yoke 45. This triplever 63 is provided with a forwardly projecting nose 64 which extendsthrough a slot 65 formed in the said The inner end of the trip lever 63terminates directly below the coin chute 66, which coin chute leadsthrough the front wall 12 of the casing 10, as at 67. Thus, upondepositing .of a coin in the chute 66, the same will strike the innerend of the trip lever 63 and rock the lever on its pivot. Normalswinging movement on the trip lever is prevented by means-of aleaf-spring 68, the lower free end of which isprovided with a biteportion 69 which normally receives a cross pin 76 carried by said triplever. The tension of the leaf-spring 68 can be adjusted by means of aset screw 71, so that the pressure of the spring bearing against thecross pin can be varied.

In other words, the tension of the spring is adjusted so that the lever63 will be tripped by a coin of proper weight and thus prevent, to acertain extent, the operation of the machine by improper coins or slugs.

Rigidly secured to adjacent supporting bar 15 is an enlarged opening 73through which the nose 64 on the lever 63 projects.

The lower wall of the opening 73 is provided with a series of pointedratchet teeth 74 with which cooperates a double-acting dog 75. This dog75 is rockably mounted intermediate its ends on the pivot pin 76 carriedby one side bar 46 of the swinging yoke 45 and this double-acting dog isarranged within the opening 73 and operates therein. The extreme upperend of the dog is provided with a finger 77, on opposite sides of whichthe nose 64 of the trip lever acts. The lower end of the dog is providedwith a tooth for engaging on the opposite sides of the pointed ratchetteeth 74. Formed on the upper wall of the opening 73 is a depending triplug 78 and this lug is located approximately midway between the ends ofthe bracket. Secured to the bracket and projecting toward the lug 78 isa guide finger 79 having an inclined upper face, for the purpose whichwill hereinafter be described.

The double-acting dog 75 is normally held in a vertical centralizedposition by means of a contractile coil spring 80, the ends of which aresecured respectively to the dog 75 below its pivot 76 and to theadjacent bar 46 of the swinging yoke 45.

In the operation of my coin-controlled mechanism, the double-acting dog75 is normally disposed, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, with thenose 64 of the trip lever 63 on the left side of the finger 77 of thedog (see Fig. 6). This trippgi and the nose end 64 thereof will beraised above the dog and the spring 68 will tend to hold the lever inits tripped position. Upon forward movement of the yoke under influenceof the operating handle 52, the dog will be rocked on its pivot to theposition shown in Figure 7 of 15p the drawings at which time the triplever will be returned to its normal position by the engagehandle willnot cause detrimental action, and

the yoke can be swung forwardly in a step-by-step movement, if desired.As the yoke moves to its complete forward position, the nose end 64 ofthe dog 63 rides on the upper inclined surface of the track or arms 79and is again raised above the dog, allowing the dog upon return movementof the yoke to reverse its position under the raised end of the triplever. As the yoke returns to its normal position, the trip lever willbe returned to its normal position in rear of the dog, due to theengagement of the trip lever with the lug 78.

The device is again ready for operation.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided anexceptional simple and novel mechanism for permitting a convenient andexpeditious ejecting of a selected article from a plurality of displayarticles.

In order to keep the articles to be sold in a fresh condition, as ispossible, and to also hold the articles in correct position during themanipulation of the endless carrier, I provide side guide plates 82which are rigidly secured in place in any desired way. The lower ends ofthe side plates can be connected by an arcuate bottom wall 83. The runsof the conveyor travel between the side plates and past the bottomarcuate wall 83. v

In Figures 10 to 14 inclusive, I have illustrated another and preferredform of my invention and by referring to these figures, it can be seenthat in lieu of the article ejector pins 48, Ihave provided asubstantially U-shaped bar which is pivotally connected to the swingingyoke 45. The U-shaped bar 90 carries a transversely extending bar 91which is engaged by forwardly extending spring arms 92 carried by saidyoke 45. These spring arms 92 normally hold the U-shaped bar 90 at rightangles to the yoke and allows the U-shaped pusher bar 90 to readilyengage in-a selected pocket irrespective of the position thereof.

It is to be also noted in this form that I eliminate the spaced crossbars 21, but I provide an additional means for positively holding theconveyor against movement when an article is being ejected fromaselected pocket, so as to insure the holding of the selected pocket inproper registration with the delivery opening. This means embodies arelatively large gear wheel 93 keyed or otherwise secured to the bottomshaft 16 utilized for operating the conveyor and this gear wheel 93 isformed at spaced points therein with keeper openings 94, arranged in anannular row. The inner face of the gear wheel 93 is provided with guideportions 95 leading to said openings 94, so as to guide the lockingplunger 96 into an opening 94, as will be later described.

The distance between each opening 94 corresponds to the distance betweenthe pockets of the conveyor, and the wheel 93 will turn one space or thedistance between a pair of openings 94, each time an article pocket ismoved into registration with the delivery opening.

The slide plunger 96 is supported by a bracket 97 rigidly connected inany preferred way to the frame or casing of the dispensing machineandthe inner end of the plunger is provided with an anti-friction wheel98.

In this form of the invention, I provide a substantially bellcrank-shaped operating lever 99 which is provided at its angle with ahub 100 rotatably mour. ed on the bottom shaft 16. The longitudinal arm101 constitutes the operating handle for the lever, while the shortarm102 thereof is arranged between the bottom bar of the swinging yoke 45and a limiting angle bracket 103. The arm 101 is provided with alaterally U-shaped offset portion 104, the lower edge of which istapered as atl05. The roller end of the plunger 96 is arranged in thepath of the U- shaped lateral portion 104 of the operating lever, and,consequently, when the lever or arm 101 is pushed downwardly foractuating the yoke 45, the plunger 96 will be pushed against the tensionof its spring 106 toward the wheel 93 and into one of the openings 94.The swinging lever 99 can be returned to its normal position by means ofa contractile coil spring 107 which can be secured to the arm 102 ofsaid lever and to the casing or housing of the dispensing machine. Ialso provide novel means for indicating to the operator when a selectedpocket is in direct alignment with the delivery opening.

This means can be in the nature of a signal and as shown embodies arotary bar 108 having signal blades 109 on its terminals which can bepainted a distinctive color. These signal arms or blades 109 are movablepast a sight window 110.

formed in the casing, and when a signal arm or blade is in registrationwith the sight opening, this will indicate to the operator of themachine that a selected pocket is in proper registration with thedelivery opening. The arm or bar 108 carrying the ,signal arms is keyedor otherwise secured to a rotatable shaft 111, carried by the casing orhousing of the machine, and this shaft has .keyed or otherwise securedthereto a relatively small'gear wheel 112, which meshes with a largergear wheel 113. This gear wheel 113 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft114 which can be carried by one of the frame bars or plates 15 andmeshes with the large gear wheel 93.

As clearly shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, I eliminate the bracket72 and form the said bracket as a direct part of the frame plate orsupporting side bar 15. p

The other features of invention illustrated in Figures 10 to 14inclusive are substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 9inclusive with the exception that I eliminate the second slide door 33and its operating parts and the ratchet 41 and dog 42 for preventing therotation of the shaft 16 in one direction.

Thus, other parts of the device shown in said Figures 10 to 14 inclusivewill not be described in detail. I

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of the invention.

llclaim:

1. In a vending machine, a casing having a de- 145 livery opening, adispensing chamber having a discharge opening housing said deliveryopening, a movable carrier having a plurality of article receivingpockets arranged'in said casing, means operating the carrier forbringing a selected rea ers pocket into registration with the deliveryopening, means for ejecting an article from a selected pocket throughsaid delivery opening, a swing ing door for the delivery opening, asliding door for the discharge opening, means for opening the door forthe delivery opening and for closing the door for the discharge openingupon actuation of the article ejecting means, said last mentioned meansactuating to open the door for the discharge opening and for closing thedoor for the delivery opening upon return movement of the articleejecting means to normal position.

2. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, an endlessconveyor movable in the casing having a plurality of article receivingpockets, means including an operating shaft for actuating said endlessconveyor for bringing a selected pocket into registration with thedelivery opening, and positive means for ejecting an article from aselected pocket including a swinging yoke, an ejecting member carried bythe yoke movable through a selected pocket for ejecting an articletherefrom, and means for actuating the yoke.

3. In an article vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, anendless conveyor movable in the casing, having a plurality of articlereceiving pockets, means for operating the conveyor for bringing aselected pocket into registration with the delivery opening, each ofsaid pockets having a movable follower plate, links pivotally connectedto each pocket and operatively connected to its follower plate, andmeans for ejecting an article from a selected pocket including aswinging yoke and pins movable through a selected pocket, the linksbeing arranged in the path of said pins.

. 4. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, anendless conveyor movable in the casing having a plurality of articlereceiving pockets, means including an operating shaft for actuating saidendless conveyor for bringing a selected pocket into registration withthe delivery opening, positive means for ejecting an article from aselected pocket including a swinging yoke, an ejecting member carried bythe yoke movable through the selected pocket for ejecting an articletherefrom, means for actuating the swinging yoke including a swingingoperating lever, and means for locking the endless conveyor againstmovement during operation of the swinging yoke including a wheel on theoperating shaft having a plurality of spaced openings arranged along anannular row, a sliding plunger normally urged away from the wheel forengaging in a selected opening in the wheel, a portion of said plungerbeing arranged in the path of the operating lever, whereby uponactuation of the operating lever,

.the plunger will be moved toward the wheel and into one of saidopenings.

5. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, an endlessconveyor movable in the casing having a plurality of article receivingpockets, means including an operating shaft for actuating said endlessconveyor for bringing a selected pocket into registration with thedelivery opening, positive means for ejecting an article from a selectedpocket including a swinging yoke, an ejecting member carried by the yokemovable through a selected pocket for ejecting an article therefrom,said ejecting member including a U-shaped bar rockably carried by theyoke and a resilient connection between the bar and yoke for normalyholding the bar at right angles to the yoke, and means for actuating theyoke.

6. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening in its frontwall, an endless conveyor movably mounted in the casing having front andrear vertical runs, the endless conveyor including a plurality ofarticle receiving pockets, means for advancing the conveyor pockets pastthe opening, a swinging yoke mounted in the casing, means for operatingthe yoke, and pusher meanscarried by the yoke movable in a horizontalplane through the pocket moved into registra-v tion with the opening.

7. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, an endlessconveyor movable in the casing including front and rear vertical runs,the conveyor embodying a plurality of article receiving pockets, meansincluding an operating shaft for actuating said endless conveyor forbringing a selected pocket in the front vertical run into registrationwith the delivery opening,

means on the shaft for rotating the same, a swinging yoke mounted in thecasing including a cross bar mounted between the runs of the conveyor,means carried by the cross bar movable in a horizontal plane through thepocket in registration with the opening upon swinging movement of theyoke in one direction, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on the firstshaft, means operatively connecting the hollow shaft with the yoke, andan operating handle for the hollow shaft arranged exteriorly of thecasing and adjacent to the means for rotating the first shaft.

VICTOR H. KELLEY.

